Combined radiant heat and acoustic tile unit structure



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[EVEJYL UT George/153020 0 G. M. RAPP COMBINED RADIANT HEAT AND ACOUSTICTILE UNIT STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 5, 1951 Oct. 25, 1955 United StatesPatent COMBINED RADIANT HEAT AND ACOUSTIC TILE UNIT STRUCTURE George M.Rapp, Hamden, C0nn., assignor to Houdaiile- Hershey Corporation,Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application January 5, 1951,Serial No. 204,603 2 Claims. 0!..257-124 The present invention relatesto a combined radiant heating and acoustic tile unit and moreparticularly to a prefabricated tile unit adaptable for use as a ceilingstructure possessing both sound absorption and radiant heatingcharacteristics.

Those types of radiant panel heating systems heretofore proposed in theart have utilized heat elements embedded in plastered ceilings orotherwise incorporated in the ceiling structure. Various types ofheating elements have been utilized including conduit coils embedded inthe plaster, electrical resistance heating elements also embedded in thefinished ceiling, etc. In addition to radiant panel heating in. theceiling, sound absorption has been accomplished by the utilization ofsound absorbent materials which are secured to the ceiling structures.However, there has not been provided in the art a single ceiling unitwhich provides both radiant panel heating and sound absorption. Onedifliculty heretofore encountered in any consideration of a combinationof these two functions, has been the intrinsic thermal insulatingproperties of sound deadening materials, so that effective heatradiation from a sound deadening surface -has been generally believed tobe impossible.

The. presentlinvention now provides an improved ceiling unit whereinboth functions'of sound deadening and radiant heating are provided. Bymeans of the present invention, the thermal insulating qualities ofsound deadening material are actually advantageous in preventing heatlosses through the ceiling, so that'a greater effective heat radiationis obtained. Further, the dual functions may be performed by tile-likeunits which are supplied in prefabricated, standardized modular unitswhich may be readily adapted to any size or type of ceiling.

Generally, the structure of the present invention comprises a pan-likeor tray-like unit formed of sheet metal or the like and carrying a heattransfer fluid conduit on the bottom wall thereof. Preferably, the unitpans are defined by a sheet metal structure having good thermalconductivity and which has its bottom Wall grooved to receive thereinthe heat transfer fluid conducting tubes of a plate and tube-type heatexchanger. The pan bottom wall, intermediate the tube grooves, isapertured and the pan or tray is filled with a sound deadening material.

Thus, the trays-or pans, when formed in standardized units, may becombined to define a complete ceiling structure for a habitable place.Preferably, a plurality of aligned pan units are spaced from the nextgroup of units to provide a pipe chase therebetween, which chase isutilized for maintenance and repair of the adjacent units and forcoupling the adjacent units to one another. A removable panel isprovided for closing the pipe chase and for presenting a uniformappearance.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention toprovide a combined radiant heating and acoustic tile unit.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide aceiling structure which combines the dual functions of sound absorptionand radiant heating.

2,721,731 Patented Oct. 25, 1955 ice It is a further important object ofthe present invention to provide a prefabricated ceiling tile unit inthe form of a relatively shallow tray formed of heat conductive materialand bearing a fluid conduit for a heat transfer medium, the unit beingsubstantially filled with sound absorbent material.

Yet another important object of the present invention is to provide animproved ceiling tile unit incorporating a plate and tube-type heatexchanger wherein the plate is formed as a relatively shallow traycontaining sound deadening material, the tray being perforated at itsexposed surface for effective sound deadening action.

It is a still further important object of the present invention toprovide a combined radiant heating and acoustic tile unit comprising ashallow tray providing a heat exchanger-backing plate, a sinuous heatexchange fluid conduit secured to the tray in greater thansemiperipheral contact therewith, and sound deadening materialsubstantially filling the tray and overlying the heat transfer fluidconduit, the exposed surface of the tray being perforated intermediatethe conduit reaches for effective sound deadening action.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

On the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of a ceiling composed of combined radiantheating and acoustic tile units of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of a single tile unit of the presentinvention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view, with parts shown in elevation,taken along the plane III-J11 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along the plane IV-IV ofFigure 1; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 4illustrating a modified form of tile unit of the present invention.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure 1, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a ceiling composedof tile units of the present invention. A single tile unit isillustrated in Figure 2 in which it will be seen that each unit 11 iscomposed of a perforated backing plate 12 having upturned longitudinalflanges 13 (Figure 4) defining a relatively shallow open topped tray orpan. The lower wall of the tray 12 is provided with a plurality ofgenerally parallel longitudinally extending grooves 14 in which a heattransfer fluid-conveying conduit 15 is mounted. The conduit 15preferably takes the form of a sinuous tube, the straight reaches ofwhich are bottomed within the grooves 14, and the curved turning reaches15a of which project laterally outwardly of the tray bottom. In thismanner, the provision of a sinuous groove 14 is avoided and the straighttube portions only are bottomed within correspondingly straight grooves14.

The tube straight portions are securely locked within the grooves 14 bydeformation of the plate into greater than semi-peripheral contact withthe tube. More specifically, the grooved poritons of the plate overlie,as at 16 (Figure 4), a median diameter of the tube in order that thetube is firmly interlocked with the plate in good heat transferrelationship and in extended surface contact therewith.

The plate intermediate the tube grooves 14 formed therein, is pierced orperforated as at 17. Preferably, the perforations are of the type knownas pierced and drawndown, and this type of perforation is illustrated inthe drawings. The plate is pierced and then the adjacent portions of theplate are drawn into a generally cylindrical miniature boss projectinginto the tray.

The trays or pans 12 are filled with a solid acoustical orsound-absorbent material 18. This material is desirably cast-in-placeand is preferably an inorganic, noncombustible, cementitious materialhaving a porous or vesicular structure and the ability to chemicallyharden and make intimate and effective bond to the metal of the pan. Theacoustical material may be any of those substances well known in the artwhich have acoustical characteristics. A desirable material having suchacoustical properties is an indurated hydrous calcium silicate,described in U. S. Patent No. 1,932,971, and available under the tradename Microporite. Alternatively, acoustical material may be any fibrous,felted or loose, organic or inorganic material having proper acousticproperties, and it is not essential that the material be chemicallybonded to the pans.

It will be seen from Figure 4 that the tops of the lateral flanges 13are flush with the sound absorbent material 18 so that a continuous topsurface is provided. This top surface is utilized for attaching the tileunits to any type of overhead support, such as a ceiling sub-structure,and the utilization of conventional acoustic material cement isfacilitated by the provision of a plane upper surface.

As shown in Figure 1, the tile units are preferably arranged in spacedseries extending across one entire dimension of the habitable spacewithin which they are utilized, with the space between rows of adjacenttile being filled with a pipe chase closure panel 20 (Figure 3). Thispanel closes the pipe chase spaces 21, the panel 20 being provided withupwardly extending flanges 22 which are frictionally engaged withcorresponding sides of the op posed tile units, and the upstandingflanges are notched so as to fit about the conduit terminal portions bwhich extend into the pipe chases. The terminal portions 15b of theconduits are joined by suitable means, as by couplings 23 (Figures 1 and3), and it will be seen that a continuous heat exchange fluid flow pathis thus provided through each of the tile units providing the ceilingstructure. In order to present a uniform appearance, the pipe chaseclosure panel is provided with apertures 24 corresponding in size andspacing with the apertures 17 of the pans 12.

A modified form of tile unit is shown in Figure 5 wherein it will beseen that the tile flanges extend upwardly beyond the acoustic material18 and in this instance, the tile units may be hung on a system ofprefabricated furring strips in accordance with well-known andconventional methods.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the presentinvention thus provides an efficient combined radiant heating andacoustic tile unit which performs the dual functions of radiant heatingand sound absorption. The efliciency of radiant heating by means of thetile unit is actually enhanced by the provision of the sound deadeningmaterial. This improved radiant heating efiiciency is made possible bythe provision of the exposed radiant heat transfer plate having theacoustic material superimposed thereon. The acoustic material is aneffective heat insulating material and heat loss through thesuperimposed ceiling structure is thereby prevented. A substantiallycontinuous radiant panel surface is provided by the pan bottom, and itwill be appreciated that an even heat distribution and radiation isthereby obtained. The effectiveness of the sound deadening material isenhanced by the provision of the apertures 17 formed in the pan bottom,the pan bottom also serving to retain the heat transfer fluid conduits15 in extended surface engagement.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be elfectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A combined radiant heating and sound deadening ceiling structurecomprising a plurality of aligned and spaced rows of prefabricated tileunits; each of said units including a relatively shallow tray having aperforate bottom wall and substantially filled with sound deadeningmaterial, and heat exchange tubing positioned in said trays and ineffective heat transfer relation with the bottom walls thereof; meansbetween adjacent rows of tile units joining the heat exchange fluidtubes of corresponding untis of adjacent rows; and perforate dummyplates bridging the space between said adjacent rows and having upturnedmarginal flanges engaging the tile units of said adjacent rows, saidupturned marginal flanges having openings through which said heatexchange tubing extends.

2. A combined radiant heating and sound deadening ceiling structurecomprising a plurality of aligned and spaced rows of prefabricated tileunits; each of said units including a relatively shallow tray having aperforate bottom wall, sound absorbent material substantially fillingsaid trays, said bottom wallbeing provided with longitu dinalsubstantialy parallel grooves, a sinuous length of heat exchange fluidtubing having straight portions bottomed in said grooves and securedtherein, and curved joining portions and straight end portionsprojecting beyond said bottom wall; means between adjacent rows of tileunits joining the straight end portions of said sinuous lengths of heatexchange fluid tubing of corresponding units of adjacent rows; and dummyplates bridging the space between adjacent rows and having upturnedmarginal flanges engaging the tile units of said adjacent rows, saidupturned marginal flanges having openings through which said curvedjoining portions and said straight end portions of said sinuous tubingextend.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,086,898 Crane Feb. 10, 1914 1,744,517 Barker Jan. 21, 1930 1,749,159Respess Mar. 4, 1930 1,932,971 Hutteman et al. Oct. 31, 1933 2,271,871Newport et a1. Feb. 3, 1942 2,382,340 Smith Aug. 14, 1945 2,486,563Jorgensen Nov. 1, 1949 2,646,971 Raskin July 28, 1953 2,662,743 FrengerDec. 15, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 274,664 Great Briatin July 28, 1927 OTHERREFERENCES Burgess-Manning Bulletin No. 185, A. I. A. File 30-c- 44,dated July 1950.

